In brief
Sudiksha Konanki, a college student who went missing during her spring break in the Dominican Republic, has her last companion, Joshua Steven Riibe, leave the country. Riibe, not a suspect, expressed a desire to return home after being questioned.
The man last seen with Sudiksha Konanki, a college student who went missing this month while on spring break in the Dominican Republic, has left the country. Joshua Steven Riibe, 22, departed for the U.S. on Wednesday night with his father, according to his lawyer. Ms. Konanki, 20, was reported missing after going on a trip to Punta Cana.Her parents speculate she may have drowned. Mr. Riibe was not considered a suspect, as confirmed by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, which assisted in the case. He studied at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota and hails from Rock Rapids, Iowa.In a court hearing in Higüey, Riibe revealed he had been held for ten days and wanted to go home. After Dominican authorities confiscated his passport, he obtained a new one from the U.S. Consulate to ensure his departure. Ms. Konanki arrived in the Dominican Republic on March 3 and had been staying at a local hotel with friends. She was last seen with Riibe near a beach on March 6. Two detectives interviewed him on March 13, and officials believe he attempted to assist her from the water. Konanki's father stated he believes she drowned and does not suspect Riibe of wrongdoing.A sweeping search for Konanki involved drones, helicopters, divers, and police dogs, showcasing the urgency and thoroughness of the investigation.
